"Learn to do the coin roll"

The Coin Roll

The coin roll is easier than you think.

This age-old flourish was a favorite with coin men. This is one of the first moves every coin magician masters.

With the right hand closed and back uppermost, show a large coin, such as a half dollar, pinched flat between the tips of the thumb and outer side of the knuckle of the forefinger, and protruding as much as possible, Fig. 1. Step One
Push the coin up slightly and release it with the thumb, permitting the coin to lay down and to be balanced on the back of the forefinger between the knuckles and the middle joint as in Fig. 2. Raise the second finger and bring it down on the right edge of the coin causing it to assume a temporary position pinched flat between the first and second

fingers, Fig. 3. Without hesitating, the coin is allowed to fall onto the back of the second finger and the same action is continued until the coin is pinched in a vertical position between the last two fingers. Step 3

At this stage of the flourish you may reverse the process, thus bringing the coin back to its starting position. A better way to get back to the starting position is to allow the coin to slip between the last two fingers onto the tip of the thumb which is brought underneath the hand to receive it. It is then carried balanced flat on the ball of the thumb back to its starting place and the same set of moves repeated as many times as you wish.

Tip: After you have learned the basic moves, you can practice it for hours while watching television. The key to making this a beautiful flourish is to train the muscles in your hand to automatically perform all of the moves without hesitating or making a mistake.

Several variations are possible with this beautiful flourish. Some performers can keep two or more coins going at the same time with both hands simultaneously.

Where to go from here:

1. Learn to do the coin roll with your left hand.

2. Learn to roll two or more coins at the same time.

3. Learn to roll coins with both your right and left hands at the same time.

Learn more about coin sleights including the coin roll.

Magically yours,

*Coin roll instruction is adapted from Modern Coin Magic by J.B. Bobo.